The trial began on a Saturday and the whole of the day was taken up with a legal argument.

I am not going to give the details of the case.

I shall only note the chief features of it and the unfairness which characterised it.
Sir Edward Clarke pointed out that there was one set of charges under the Criminal Law Amendment Act and another set of charges of conspiracy.

He urged that the charges of conspiracy should be dropped.
Under the counts alleging conspiracy, the defendants could not be called on as witnesses, which put the defence at a disadvantage.

In the end the Judge decided that there were inconveniences; but he would not accede to Sir Edward Clarke's request.